Automatic hosiery drier table leveling mechanism



Oct. 4, 1932. H. F. WANAMAKER 1,380,548

AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRIER TABLE LEVELING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet Oct. 4, 1932. H. F. WANAMAKE R 1,380,548

AUTOMATiC HOSIERY DRIER TABLE LEVELING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet Oct. 4, 1932. H. F. WANAMAKER 1,830,548

AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRIER TABLE LEVELING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 4, 1932. H. F. WAN'AMAKER 1,880,543

AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRIER TABLE LEVELING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 18. 1932 lulullllllllliull llll Ill-Ill Ill-Illlllllnllll v itlrll Ill! m wh MI 1111 k Patented Oct. 4, 1932 FATE FICE

HARRY F. WANAMAKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PROCTOR&;

SCHWARTZ, IN CORLPORA'I'ED, 0E OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRIER TABLE LEVELINGMECHANISM Application filed March 18,

This invention relates to apparatus for handling articles of manufacturecomposed of flaccid materials, such as stockings, and more particularlyto a receiving table of the general character disclosed in U. S. LettersPatent No. 1,189,064 when employed in conjunction with an automatichosiery drier wherein the stockings are automatically stripped from theforms after drying and laid successively upon a receiving table, asdisclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,126,619.

The receiving table disclosed in the first mentioned patent is composedof a series of stationary slats respectively alternating with a seriesof relatively movable slats, the latter being adapted to be raised abovethe stationary slats to lift the articles supported thereby to a planeabove the top edges of the stationary slats, the movable slats thenbeing moved longitudinally of and with respect to the stationary slatsto trans port the lifted articles longitudinally of the stationary slatswhile the movable slats are maintained in a raised position, the movableslats being subsequently lowered to deposit the articles on thestationary slats and continuing to move to a position below thestationary slats wherein the movable slats are moved longitudinally inan opposite direc tion to the starting position for a repeat of thecycle of operation.

The receiving table is provided with piling mechanism which comprises aseries of bars respectively overlying'the stationary slats at one end ofthe table. These piling bars are primarily elevated above both thestationary and relatively movable slats of the table and as thestockings are disposed one after another on the elevated piling barsthese bars are lowered step by step until they come to rest on, orassume positions immediately adjacent and above, the stationary slats,after a predetermined number of stockings have beenpiled in superposedrelation upon the piling bars.

When the piling bars move to their maximum low position the mechanismcontrolling the operation of the movable slats of the table, as abovenoted, is brought into action the stockings are 1932. Serial No.599,840.

to move the pile of stockings off the piling matically to their primaryor maximum high position, above referred to for starting another pile.

With the piling bars in the elevated position openings are left betweenthe bars, said openings being substantially equal to the respectivewidths of the movable slats, and as piled on the spaced piling bars theysag between the bars into the said spaces, consequently, the stockings,and particularly the stockings at and adjacent the bottom of the pile,assume a more or less undulated form. As a result of these undulationsin the lowermost stockings, when the piling bars are lowered and themovable slats raised to lift the pile of stockings from the piling barsthe movable slats engage the undulated portions of the lowermoststockings,

causing the stockings to become more or less wrinkled.

The object of the present invention is to provide a table whereby thestockings will be piled, and the piles transported in the same generalmanner as above noted, but, wherein the piling bars are eliminated andthe movable and stationary slats are maintained at all times insubstantially coincident planes transversely of the table, at thereceiving end of the table,the stockings being piled in superposedrelation on the coincidiing ends of the two series of slats, and due tothe level or coincident relation existing between the stationary andmovable slats no undulations are formed in the stockings, as

by sagging in the manner above noted.

The coincidently arranged piling ends of the stationary and movableslats are lowered step by step as a unit during the piling operation,and by which the two series of slats are brought into a substantiallyleveled I or coinciding relation with respect to each other throughouttheir entire lengths respectively, when a predetermined number ofstockings are piled on the receiving end of the table, the pile beingsubsequently transported along the table by. cooperative movement of theone series of slats with respect to the other series of slats, in themanner above noted.

The construction and operation of the mechanism forming the subject ofthe present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawin s, of which: Fig. 1 is a frontelevation showing the piling or receiving end of the table in. the

maximum hi h position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing the static-nary and movable slatsin their completely leveled position at the completion of the formationof a pile of stockings at the receiving end of the table; 7

Fig. 5 illustrates the movable slats as having-raised the pile ofstockings for transportation along the table;

Fig. 6 shows the movable slats having been moved longitudinally withrespect to the stationary slats with the pile of stockings thereon;

Fig. 7 illustrates the movable slats as having been lowered to depositthe pile of stockings on the stationary slats at a posit-ionlongitudinally removed from the piling position on the table.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises side frame members 1 and2 at one end of the table connected by a transversely extending beam 3,and a transversely extending end frame 4 at the opposite end of thetable. Supported by the frame members 3 and 4 are longitudinallyextending stationary frame beams 5, 5, the ends of the said beamsoverlying the transverse frame memher 3 being supported from said framemember 3 by means of vertically extending brackets 6, 6 respectively,while the opposite ends of said beams are secured directly to the endframe 4.

Secured to and extending above the end frame 4 is a relatively flexibleplate 7 to which one end of each of a series of stationary slats 8, 8 issecured, the said plate functioning as a common fulcrum for the entireseries of stationary slats 8, for purposes hereinafter set forth. Theopposite end of each stationary slats is secured to a plate 9 which issupported by a pair of vertically extending rods 10 passing throughbearings 11 secured to the ends of the beams 5, 5 respectively. Theopposite ends of the rods 10 are pivot-ally attached to the outer endsof levers 12, 12 which are secured to a rock shaft 13 that is rotatablysupported in bearings 14: and 15 carried by the frame members 1 and 5respectively. The shaft 13 is provided with a lever 16 having a camfollower 17 operating in a cam groove 18 formed on a one face of a wheel19.

The wheel 19 is rotatably supported on a stud 19a carried by andprojectinglaterally from the frame member 1. The periphery ofthe wheel19 is provided with a series of teeth 21 with which cooperates a rollercarried by a crank arm or disc 22 secured to the main operating shaft 23of the machine, the disc 22, the roller 20 and the teeth 21 of the wheel19 providing a Geneva movement The relatively movable slats 25 aredisposed in alternate relation to the stationary slats 8, the slats 25being respectively disposed in the spaces between the stationary slat-s.The movable slats 25, 25 are supported adjacent the opposite endsthereof by:

brackets 26, 26 which are respectively secured to transversely extendingsupporting members 27, 27. The transverse members 27, 27 are secured tolongitudinally extending bars 28, 28 and together therewith constitute asupporting frame for the series of movable slats 25.

The frame members 28 are supported at their ends adjacent the end frame4 on rollers 29, 29 which are rotatably mounted on the outer ends oflevers 30. 30 secured to a transversely extending rock shaft 31 that isrotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame beams 5, 5.The rollers 29 function as a common fulcrum for the movable slats 25,25.

The opposite ends of the frame members 28 are provided with rollers 32which are adapted to ride on inclined rails 33, 33 carried by plates 34,34 which are secured to the end a direction longitudinally of the table,the

opposite endsof the movable slats 25 being disposed in a plane somewhatbelow that of the top edges of the stationary slats 8, and inwardlydisposed with respect to the fulcrum plate 7 -Botatably mounted inbearings carried by the beams 5, 5 is a shaft 31a on which is securedlevers a provided with rotatably mounted rollers 29a.

Secured to the shafts 31 and 31a respectively are levers 35 and 35awhich are operatively connected by a link 36 having a head 37 whichencircles and cooperates with a cam 38 that is secured to a sleeve shaft44, surrounding the shaft 23, for rocking the shafts 31, 310; at apredetermined time in exactly the same manner, whereby the rollers 29and 29a are at all times maintained in the same horizontal plane withrespect to each other;

As the wheel 19 is rotated step by step the ends of the slats 8 and 25,adjacent he end plate 9, are simultaneously lowered and maintained atall times in substantially the same plane during the lowering operation,the plate 7 at the opposite end of the slats 8 flexing sufficiently topermit the change in angle of inclination of the slats 8, resulting fromthe pivotal action of said slats, while the ion gitudinal frame members28 supporting the ends of the movable slats 25 adjacent the plate 7 rideand pivot on the rollers 29 to accommodate the change in angle ofinclination of the slats 25.

lVhen lowered to the maximum extent the upper edges of the slats 8 and25 are in substantially the same plane entirely throughout their lengthsas illustrated in Fig. 4, and at which time the frame members 28intermediate the opposite ends thereof come to rest on the rollers 30a.

At this time the mechanism for raising the movable slats relative to thestationary slats; for moving the movable slats longitudinally withrespect to the stationary slats; for lowering the movable slats belowthe plane of the stationary slats; and for returning the movable andstationary slats to a starting position is brought into action.

The continuously rotating main shaft 23 is provided with a clutchelement 40 which is rigidly secured to said shaft 23 and which, in thepresent instance, is provided with an opening 41 adapted to receive apin 42 slidably mounted in a clutch element 43 secured to one end of thesleeve shaft. 44 that surrounds the main shaft 23, as abovenoted, theclutch pin 42 being provided with a wedge member or head 45 that engagesand up on one end of a laterally extending rod 46, for the purpose ofpulling the clutch pin 42 out of the opening 41 in the constantlyrotating clutch element 40, whereby the sleeve shaft 44 is brought torest.

The clutch-controlling rod 46 in the pres ent instance is provided withrelatively spaced collars 47, 48 bet-ween which operates fork ends 490,49a of a lever 49 that is secured to the table-lowering shaft 13.

When the table-lowering shaft 13 has been rocked through the medium ofthe cam or counting wheel 19, to the extent whereinthe table is in itslowermost and horizontally leveled position, the upper ends 49a of thelever 49 engage the collar 47 and withdraws the end of the rod 46 fromunder the wedgeshaped head 45 of the clutch pin 42, whereby the clutchpin enters the opening 41 in the clutch element 40, locking the clutchelements 40 and 43 and consequently the shafts 23 and 44 together forrotation in unison.

The cam element 38 which is fixed to the sleeve shaft 44 is consequentlyrotated, thereby rocking the shafts 31, 31a and raising the rollers 29,29a which raises the frame 28 and consequently the slats 25 to'aposition with their upper edges above the plane of the upper edges ofthe stationary slats 8 as illustrated in Fig. 5. The rollers 32 on theframe members 28 are lifted from the inclined rails 33 during this andthe immediately following operations, the frame '28 and slats 25 beingsupported solely by the rollers 29, 29a Whereby free longitudinalmovement of the frame 28 and slats 25 in a horizontal plane ispermitted.

Secured to the sleeve shaft 44 is a second cam 50 which cooperates witha housing 51 having a pivotal connection, as at 52, with a lever 53secured to a shaft 54 that is rotatably mounted in the frame of themachine. The cam housing 51 is also pivotally connected at 55 to one endof a lever 56, the opposite end of which is freely rotatable on theshaft 31a.

Secured to the shaft 54 is a lever 57, the opposite end of which ispivotally connected as at 58 to one end of a link 59, the opposite endof said link being'pivotally connected at 60 to a hearing or bracket 61that is se cured to one of the cross members 27 of the frame whichsupports the movable slats 25.

As the shaft 44 rotates and the cam 38 functions to raise the frame 28and the slats 25, the housing 51 is raised by the cam 50, causing arocking of the shaft 54 which, through the lever 57 and link 59, causesa longitudinal movement of the slats 25 toward the end plate 7 of thetable, while the said slats are maintained in their elevated positionabove the stationary slats 8 by the rollers 29, 29a through the mediumof the cam 38, whereby the slats 25 attain a position 7 with their upperedges elevated above the upper edges of the stationary slats 8, asillustrated in Fig. 6.

Continued rotation oft-he shaft 44 lowers the frame 28 and the slats 25carried thereby to a position below the stationary slats 8 asillustrated in Fig. 7, the frame 28 and slats 25 then moving in anopposite direction belowthe level of the upper edges of the stationaryslats 8.

At this time the roller 20 engages another of the teeth 21 of the wheel19 thereby rotating the cam 18 to a position wherein the cam follower 17rides quickly from the low point of the cam 18 to the high pointthereof,

which causes an elevation of the plate 9 and the receiving ends of thestationary slat-s 8 through a rocking of the shaft 13, as effected bythe movement of the cam follower 17 from the maximum low to the maximumhigh position in the cam 18.

The rocking of the shaft 13 as noted causes the ends 49a, 49aof thelever 49 to engage the collar 48 of the clutch-controlling rod 46,thereby projecting the above mentioned end of the rodinto the path ofthe wedge head 45 of the clutch pin 42.

During this time the frame 28 and movable slots 25 are moving in adirection toward the receiving end of the able, that is, toward theplate 9, and just prior to the engagement of the wedge head 45 of theclutch pin 42 with the controlling rod t6 the rollers 32 on the frame 28engage the lower ends of the inclined rails 33 and ride up on the saidinclined rails, thereby raising the receiving ends of the movable slats25 into the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the receiving ends of themovable slats 25 and the receiving ends of the stationary slats 8 are insubstantially the same plane transver ely of the table, as shown in Fig.3. The clutch pin 42 is finally withdrawn from the opening 41 in thecontinuously rotating clutch element 40, thereby relcasing the sleeveshaft 44 from the continuously rotating main shaft 23 while the tableelements 8 and 25 are in the position noted, leaving the movable slatsin the relation to the stationary slats as shown in Fig. 1 for a repeatof the cycle of operation beginning with the lowering of the receivingend of the table including the stationary slats 8 and movable slats 25.

I claim:

1. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thefixed slats with the upper edges of the movable slats at the receivingend of the table in a plane substantially coinciding transversely of thetable with the plane of the upper edges of the fixed slats, means forlowering the receiving end of the table including the coinciding ends ofthe two series of slats, and means for maintaining the said coincidingrelation of the two series of slats during the said lowering thereof forsmoothly supporting the article.

2. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternatin respectively with thefixed slats with the upper edges of the movable slats at the receivingend of the table in a plane substantially coinciding transversely of thetable with the plane of the 7 upper edges of the fixed slats, the upperedges of one 1,sso,5es

series of slats being inclined with respect to the upper edges of theother series of slats in a direction longitudinally of the table fromthe receiving end toward the opposite end thereof, a common fulcrum forthe slats of one series at the said opposite-end of the table, a commonfulcrum for the slats of the other series disposed inwardly from thefirst said fulcrum, means for lowering the receiving end of the tableincluding the eoincidingends of the two series of slats for leveling thetwo series of slats with the upper edges thereof in substantiallycoinciding planes throughout their respective lengths, and means formaintaining the said coinciding relation of the two series of slatsduring the said lowering thereof for smoothly supporting the article.

3. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thefixed slats with the upper edges of the movable slats at the receivingend of the table in a plane substantially coinciding transversely of thetable with the plane of the upper edges of the fixed slats, the upperedges of one series of slats being inclined with respect to I the upperedges of the other series of slats in a direction longitudinally of thetable from the receiving end toward the opposite end thereof, a commonfulcrum for the slats of one series at the said opposite end of thetable, a common fulcrum for the slats of the other series disposedinwardly from the first said fulcrum, means for lowering the receivingend of the table including the coinciding ends of the two series ofslats for leveling the two series of slats with the upper edges thereofin substantially coinciding planes throughout their respective lengths,means for maintaining the said coinciding relation of the two series ofslats during the said lowering thereof for smoothly supporting thearticle, and means for elevating and'longitudinally moving the movableslats relative to the fixed slats to transport the articlelongitudinally of the table.

l. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thefixed slats withthe upper edges of the movable slats at the receivingend of the table in a plane substantially coinciding transversely of thetable with the plane of the upper edges of the fixed slats, the upperedges of one series of slats being inclined with respect to the upperedges of the other series of slats in a direction longitudinally of thetable from the. receiving end toward the opposite end thereof, a commonfulcrum for the slats of one series at the said opposite end of the formaintaining the said coinciding relation 10 of the two series of slatsduring the said lowering thereof for smoothly supporting the article,means for elevating, longitudinally moving, and subsequently loweringthe movable slats relative to the fixed slats to lift,

transport, and subsequently redeposit the article on the fixed slats ina position on the table relatively spaced from the receiving end of thetable and for subsequently moving the movable slats in anoppositedirection toward the receiving end of the table, means for raising thefixed slats at the said receiving end of the table, and meansfor raisingthe corresponding ends of the movable slats to said coinciding positionrelative to the said ends of the fixed slats.

5. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thesaid fixed slats, a vertically movable frame to which the correspondingends of the fixed slats are secured, a horizontally movable frame towhich the corresponding ends of the movable slats are secured, andcooperating means on said frames for substantially aligningcorresponding edges of the corresponding ends of the two series of slatsby coordinated vertical movement of the one frame and horizontalmovement of the other frame.

6. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thesaid fixed slats, a vertically movable frame to which the correspondingends of the fixed slats are secured, a horizontally movable frame towhich the corresponding ends of the movable slats are secured, and aninclined surface on one of said frames arranged to engage an element onthe other of said frames for substantially aligning corresponding edgesof the said corresponding ends of said fixed and movable slats bycoordinated longitudinal movement of the one frame and vertical movementof the other frame.

7. A table for'receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at one endthereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixed slats, aseries of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectively with thesaid fixed slats, a vertically movable frame to which the correspondingends of the fixed slats are secured, a horizontally movable frame towhich the corresponding ends of the movable slats are secured, aninclined rail on the vertical movable frame and a roller on thehorizontally movable frame arranged toengage and ride on the saidinclined rail, for substantially aligning corresponding edges of thecorresponding ends of the two series of slats by coordinatedlongitudinal movement of the one frame and vertical move mentof theother frame. 8. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely ofand at one end thereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinallyfixed slats, a series of longitudinally movable slats alternatingrespectively with the said fixed slats, a vertically movable frame towhich the corresponding ends of the fixed slats are secured, ahorizontally movable frame to which the corresponding ends of themovable slats are secured, cooperating means on said frames forsubstantially aligning cor responding edges of the corresponding ends ofthe two series of slats by coordinated vertical movement of the oneframe and horizontal. movement of the other frame, and means forlowering the said aligned corresponding ends of the two series of slatsin unison while maintained in said aligned relation by the saidcooperating means on said frames.

- 9. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at oneend thereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally.- fixedslats, a series of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectivelywith the said fixed slats, a vertically movable frameto which thecorresponding ends of the fixed slats are secured, a horizontallymovable frame to wlnch the corresponding ends of the movable slats aresecured, cooperating means on said frames for substantially aligningcorresponding edges of the corresponding ends of the two series of slatsby coordinated vertical movement of the one frame and horizontalmovement I of the other frame, and

means for intermittently lowering the said" aligned corresponding endsof the two series of slats simultaneously in successive predeterminedsteps while maintained in said aligned relation by means on said frames.

10. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at oneend thereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixedslats, a series of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectivelywith the said fixed slats, a vertically movable frame'to which thecorresponding ends of thefixed slats are secured, a horizontally.movable frame to which the corresponding ends of the movable slats aresecured, cooperating means on said frames for substantially aligningcor-.'

responding edges of the corresponding ends of the two series of slats bycoordinated verthe said cooperatingfor intermittently lowering the saidaligned corresponding ends of the two series of slats vsimultaneously insuccessive predetermined steps while maintained in said aligned relationby the said cooperating means on said frames, means for raising themovable slats to a position above the fixed slats after a predeterminednumber of said intermittent lowering steps have been effected, and meansfor moving the movable slats longitudinally of the fixed slats while insaid raised position.

11. A table for receiving flaccid articles transversely of and at oneend thereof, said table comprising a series of longitudinally fixedslats, a series of longitudinally movable slats alternating respectivelywith the said fixed slats, a vertically movable frame to which thecorresponding ends of the fixed slats are secured, a horizontallymovable frame to which the corresponding ends of the movable slats aresecured, cooperating means on said frames for substantially aligningcorrespondin edges of the corresponding ends of the two series of slatsby coordinated vertical movement of the one frame and horizontalmovement of the other frame, means for intermittently lowering saidframes and the said aligned ends of the two series of slats carried bysaid frames simultaneous in successive predetermined steps from amaximum high to a maximum low position and for reraising the fixed fiatframe and the said ends of the fixed slats to the maximum high positionsubsequent to the two series of slats attaining the said maximum lowposition, means for raising the movable slat frame and the said ends ofthe movable slats relative to the said ends of the fixed slats to aposition wherein the said ends of the movable slats are elevated abovethe said ends of the fixed slats when the two series of slats attainsaid maximum low position, and means for moving the said movable slatsand frame longitudinal of and relative to the fixed slats and frame inone direction while elevated with respect to they fixed slats and in anopposite direction as the said ends of the fixed slats and frame areraising, to effect said cooperation of the said cooperating means on thesaid frames for aligning of the said ends of the slats by saidcoordinated vertical and longitudinal movements of said frames.

I 12. The combination of a series of substantially parallel slats, aframe supporting said slats, a second series of slats alternating withthe first said series, a frame supporting the second said series ofslats, an inclined rail carried by one of said frames, and a rail riderelement carried by the other of said frames for leveling the slats ofboth series with respect to each other upon relative movement betweenthe rail and the rider;

13. The combination of a series of subrail and the rider respectivelycarried thereby.

14. The combination of a series of substantially parallel slats, a frameto which corresponding ends of said slats are secured, a second seriesof slats alternating with the slats of the first series, a framesupporting the second series of slats, an inclined rail secured to thefirst said frame and projecting longitudinally of the slats, a rollerrotatably mounted on the second frame and riding the inclined rail ofthe first said frame for leveling the slats supported by the frames withrespect to each other upon relative longitudinal movement between saidframes.

HARRY F. WANAMAKER.

